Category: reviews

audio review : Lover ( album ) … Taylor Swift

audio review : Lover ( album ) ... Taylor Swift

“I Forgot That You Existed,” Taylor Swift tells a past Lover, “It isn’t love; it isn’t hate; it’s just indifference.” If that were true, she doesn’t seem to realize, the song itself wouldn’t exist. Perhaps it shouldn’t, at least not where it is. It’s a decent ditty for my money but an odd way to start an album about the “love” she claims it isn’t.

Cruel Summer, the album’s worst song; it’s the annoying chorus that’s cruel; should also be cut. That would put the lush title track in the lead where it belongs. Not that editing the playlist would make this a Lovable or even likeable set. It’ll Get Better, but not by much. There are maybe a couple of good songs in the whole bunch.

False God resurrects Prince in his prime with its beatific groove and even Taylor Swift stretching “love” out to five syllables can’t ruin the experience. Me, featuring Brendon Urie, is flawed by a cringey pitch change during its otherwise wonderful chorus. For some reason, they decide to go high on the “you” in “fun of you”.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

video review : UFC 241

video review : UFC 241

Before UFC fans can get over the shock of Mike Beltran’s missing mustache, Ian Heinisch kicks Derek Brunson in the head. Dominick Cruz thinks it’s an instant knockout; you can hear the crack when it lands; but Brunson, fighting smart for a change, goes on to win via decision.

Decisions also go to Paulo Costa over Yoel Romero and Nate Diaz over Anthony Pettis. The former is the best fight; their muscles are impressive and their power is extraordinary; though it’s the latter, specifically Diaz’s return after a three-year hiatus, that was most anticipated.

Stipe Miocic puts on a surprisingly lackluster performance against Daniel Cormier in their Heavyweight Championship title bout; a rematch from UFC 226. He gets punched in the face repeatedly until he finds DC’s weak spot; the liver area Anderson Silva once exploited; and knocks him out.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

audio review : I Wanna Thank Me ( album ) … Snoop Dogg

audio review : I Wanna Thank Me ( album ) ... Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg shouldn’t be thanking himself for these songs. Most of them are decent enough, thanks mostly to an assortment of Long Beach hood beats; the Looking For You summer anthem is the best in that regard; but some parts are annoying.

It’s good to hear Slick Rick in 2019; he was also featured on Mariah Carey’s newest album; but the song he’s on is on some tired race card bullshit. It’s also disappointing hearing banal Bob Marley, Whodini and Boyz 2 Men song bits used for hooks.

The title is silly, but it’s not Snoop’s worst. Remember Malice N Wonderland? It would be appropriate if this were his final album. I doubt it is; the Thank Me concept is based on his Hollywood star acceptance speech; but maybe it should be.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

video review : Jon Jones versus Thiago Santos at UFC 239

video review : Jon Jones versus Thiago Santos at UFC 239

Thiago Santos hurts his left leg in Round 2 and it stays that way for the rest of the bout, which causes him to buckle and fall a few times. Still he gives Jon Jones a tough fight, causing him to endure some leg issues of his own. Santos almost floors him with a kick to the calf and goes on to put a nasty welt on his thigh.

Jon Jones is more distant and inactive than usual; he mostly stalks and stares, knowing Santos has the power to knock him out at any moment; but he manages to win the bout via split decision. I was rooting for him, but I’d vote for Santos. Even with his injury, which Joe Rogan speculates is a torn ACL, I think he won this.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019

video review : No Holds Barred

video review : No Holds Barred

Hulk Hogan may as well be playing Hulk Hogan. That’s how close WWF superstar Rip is to the real-life entertainer. His nemesis here is a beast of a man named Zeus who, at one point, puts a brutal beating on Rip’s little brother.

It’s Rocky with a wrestling slant and trainer Charlie is Mickey Goldmill. The movie is hackneyed and somewhat predictable from beginning to end, but there are funny moments and the peak showdown is better than expected.

my rating : 3 of 5

1989

video review : Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz at UFC 196

video review : Conor McGregor versus Nate Diaz at UFC 196

“There is one thing we also should consider and that is the wrestling of Nate Diaz,” Joe Rogan says after a brief exchange about stances, “His submission game is very very highly respected.” The “very/very/highly” bit makes it a ridiculous overstatement, but, as Diaz goes on to prove, the gist is correct.

Conor McGregor has the advantage on the feet; his movement and striking is on a higher level; but Diaz lands a hard punch in the second round, which flips the momentum of the fight. McGregor eventually goes in for a desperate takedown and ends up getting caught in a guillotine choke.

my rating : 4 of 5

2016

video review : Nate Diaz versus Conor McGregor at UFC 202

audio review : Bang ( song ) … Tori Amos

This song is rather dull and dreary until about the final third when Tori Amos, over spacey electric guitars, starts listing chemical elements from the periodic table. That whole end section, in which she sings of wanting to be “the very best machine I can be”, is rather dazzling. The whole song should sound like that.

my rating : 3 of 5

2017

audio review : Native Invader ( album ) ... Tori Amos

Froot Loops

Froot Loops

The name is simple and to the point. It’s also sort of clever. The “o”s represent the O-shaped loops of the cereal; look at the logo on the box; though the one in the “p” is left alone. It doesn’t taste like any “froot” I remember having though. It has its own distinct, sweet and yummy flavor. The Marshmallows version is even better.

my rating : 4 of 5

video review : Orange Is The New Black [ Season 7 ]

video review : Orange Is The New Black [ Season 7 ]

This is the final season of Orange Is The New Black, a Netflix series that started off good then lost its way. The first half of this season is a return to form; it’s the best, or at least the longest, consecutive episode run since Season 2; but before long, it too drops the soap.

That’s about the time Lolly; the show’s most annoying character after Suzanne, whom she takes care of chickens with here; shows her face and loose ends start to tie. Cue the reemergence of more faces you haven’t seen in a while, including dead ones in flashbacks.

The focus ultimately goes back to Piper, appropriately enough considering the series began from her perspective. It’s a shame her story, having to do with her adjustments to the free world and her romantic feelings for Alex, is among the most mundame.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019

audio review : PYT [ Pretty Young Thing ] ( song ) … Michael Jackson

Feminists may object to the term, but I don’t think Michael Jackson gives a damn. He’s too enthralled with the girl he just met. The setting isn’t clear; it’s nighttime in what seems to be a big city with lots of lights; but the crooner has already fallen in love.

In lust is probably more like it. It’s her Pretty face he’s mostly focused on as strong sexual overtones fill the air. Even more pungent is the funk of the disco groove, which sounds suspiciously like Carl Carlton’s Bad Mama Jama, banging away in the background.

my rating : 4 of 5

1982

audio review : Thriller ( album ) … Michael Jackson

video review : Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

video review : Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino says he wants to retire after ten movies. This is number nine. If he were to ask me what I think he should do to end his career on a high note, I’d sum it up with one word; suspense. That’s what makes his best movies; Inglourious Basterds and Jackie Brown; the classics they are. They’re filled almost to the brim with moments of suspense.

There’s a scene in Hollywood in which one of its two leading men; Brad Pitt as stuntman Cliff Booth; drives a sexy hitchhiker girl to Spahn Movie Ranch, where she says she lives. She invites him on the premises to meet her hippie friends. The tension that follows could be cut with a knife, but it leads nowhere. The suspense doesn’t return until the movie is about to end.

That ending, in which members of Charles Manson’s killer cult target Cliff and his famous actor buddy Rick Dalton; Leonardo DiCaprio as the other leading man; is violent and enthralling. Most of what comes before it is relatively uneventful. A lot of the movie is spent watching Dalton act in movies that are more entertaining than the one you’re watching.

my rating : 3 of 5

2019